The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-20
MRS. ELLIS ON THE WITNESS STAND.
She Relates to the Court at Great Length the
Story of Her Domestic Difficulties.

The Ellis divorce case attracted q larger crowd
than on any day since the trial began.
Nearly one hundred people were present from
Shelbyville. They were the relatives and
friends of John w. Friday, the young man
charged with alternating the affections of Mrs.
Ellis from her husband Their sympathy is with
Mrs Ellis. Mr.. Ellis ia not wanting in sympa-
thy. The members or the South Baptist Church,
Of which he is deacon, and to which Mrs. Ellis
also belongs, are taking more than passing in
terest in the trial The twain were regarded as
among the best members OF the church, and
the sudden outbreak in their domestic troubles,
several months ago. caused something Of SEN
sation.
All day yesterday was consumed in hearing
evidence for the defense, and it will take all of
to morrow, and possibly longer. to hear all that
is to be said. Mrs Ellis was on the stand the
greater part OF the day She told elibly the story
concerning their domestic difficulties, during
which she frequently gave way to tears She
named quite q number Of ladies with whom he
objected to her assocating. He objected to her
playing the organ at the church, and to her at
tending prayer meetings. She recited her camp
meeting experience. stating that she was camp
ing there with number OF ladies from this city
and Shelbyville It was Mr. Ellis's habit to
night, and during the whole of the meeting be
continually abused her. She first met John
Friday at the meeting, on Sept. 16 During the
remainder of the meeting she only spoke to him
kissed the child before he did her, and
she got mad at that. He abused her. and she
went to General Coburns Office and had HIM
write out an application for divorce from her
husband. After it was written she concluded
not to sign it. She told her husband that she
had a com plaiut prepared. and he declared that
there would be funeral in the family before q
divorce. 'What will the church think of usl"
said he; what will society think of usl What
will our friends think of us?' Quiet reigned
until Nov. l. when Mr. Ellis displayed the letter
he had found, signed John" purporting to have
come from John w. Friday. She stated that if
the letter came from Friday she did not know
it. Mr.. Ellis declared that he would go over TO
and took with him the child. and she went to
| her sisters house. That night she left on the
$3.50 train for Cncinna first sending a tele-
gram TO Friday to join her at Shelbyville. Her
object in desiring to see him, she said, was
| to tell him Of her husbands threat. He was at
| the train, and went with her as far as Greens
| burg. She went on to Cincinnati, and the same
night to Franklin, o., where she remained sew
| eral weeks with aunt. Returning to the let.
! ter, she said: II do not even know FRIDAYS
| bad letter / would have burned it. That is the
| way wives generally do"
She admitted visiting the saloon three times
and excused it on the ground that the saloon
keeper told her that a great many church people
came there to drink beer my husband" she
said, always objected to going to the saloon bu
| he was glad enough to drink beer if some ONT
| would bring it to the house."
Mrs Ellis was allowed to rest while some Of
| her sisters in the church testified that she haG
| always been considered the most active and eff
| fcient member in the church." As much wa.
| also admitted for Mr. Ellis.